Arizona RB J.J. Taylor named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week

After setting career-highs in both rushing yards and touchdowns, Arizona running back J.J. Taylor was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week for the fourth week of the 2018 season.

The sophomore Wildcat carried the ball 27 times for 284 yards and two touchdowns in the 35-14 victory over Oregon State.

Arizona dropped its first two games to No. 20 BYU and Houston, but have since bounced back with a revitalized offense led by their rising star at running back. Taylor matched and surpassed his total yardage from the first three weeks (220 yards from scrimmage) in his performance on Saturday evening. His 305 all-purpose yards are the most by any player in the Pac-12 through four weeks.

As the lead back for head coach Kevin Sumlin, Taylor is averaging 6.7 yards per carry over the course of his 71 attempts. Not only did he put up the most yards in an FBS game this season, but it was the fourth-highest single-game rush total in the history of the program.

Taylor wasn’t the only Wildcat to garner recognition for his performance this weekend. Linebacker Colin Schooler was the first runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Week based on his performance in Week 4. The California native dominated Oregon State with one sack and 10 total tackles including four tackles for loss.

Schooler’s smothering defense was crucial in limiting Oregon State quarterback Conor Blount to 137 passing yards in the contest. Arizona allowed just 14 points in the game and held the Beavers scoreless in the second and third quarters.

The Wildcats weren’t the only Arizona-based program to gain some recognition this week.

Arizona State placekicker Brandon Ruiz was nominated for the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week for his valiant performance against No. 11 Washington on Saturday evening. The sophomore connected on all four of his attempts including two PATs and two deep field goals, one from 48 yards out.

Ruiz won the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against Michigan State in Week 2. He hit a game-winning field goal from 28 yards out to seal the upset over the Spartans and hit all three of his field goal attempts in the contest.

Both programs stand at 2-2 on the season and will return home for the second game of conference play. On Saturday evening, Arizona will host USC at 7:30 p.m. while Arizona State hosts Oregon State at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN 620 AM.